EFFIE Act

Michael Lawler

Republican · NY · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

No cosponsors on record. Bills can pass without cosponsors — this often means the sponsor introduced the bill alone, either because it's a messaging bill, a chairman's mark, or simply early in the legislative cycle.

Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

2026-05-21

Source: Congress.gov

The proposal would make it a felony crime for candidates running for federal office, or their staff and representatives, to knowingly sign false or fraudulent paperwork when filing to get on the ballot. Currently, such ballot access fraud is treated as a less serious offense, but this bill would increase the penalty to a felony conviction. The change would apply to anyone involved in submitting false election documents, from the candidate themselves to campaign employees.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 8977 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8977 To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to make it a felony offense for any person who is seeking to be a candidate in an election for Federal office or an employee or agent of such a person to knowingly fraudulently sign any materials or documentation required to be filed as a condition of ballot access for such election, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 21, 2026 Mr. Lawler introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to make it a felony offense for any person who is seeking to be a candidate in an election for Federal office or an employee or agent of such a person to knowingly fraudulently sign any materials or documentation required to be filed as a condition of ballot access for such election, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``End Fraudulent Filings that Interfere with Elections Act'' or the ``EFFIE Act''. SEC. 2. PENALTIES FOR CERTAIN FRAUDULENT ACTIVITY WITH RESPECT TO CAMPAIGNS FOR FEDERAL OFFICE. (a) Restrictions.--Section 324 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30126) is amended to read as follows: ``SEC. 324. FRAUDULENT ACTIVITY WITH RESPECT TO BALLOT ACCESS IN AN ELECTION FOR FEDERAL OFFICE. ``(a) In General.--No person who is seeking to be a candidate in an election for Federal office or an employee or agent of such a person shall knowingly fraudulently sign any materials or documentation required to be submitted as a condition of ballot access for such election. ``(b) Penalties.--Any violation of this section shall be a felony punishable upon conviction by a fine in any amount not exceeding $250,000, or imprisonment of not more than 5 years, or both.''. (b) Effective Date.--This section and the amendment made by this section shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act. <all>

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